That's true. Training, and sustained careers in elite sports, are hard on the body, and the damage can manifest itself at a young age if you're doing a lot of repetitions of something that puts a lot of stress on your body. Olympia mentioned Tara Lipinski, and you have high school kids getting Tommy John surgery. That's serious stuff.

The question is how far and how long athletes should continue to push themselves. I don't have an answer to that, but if one is to achieve anything in sport, sometimes you do have to push yourself to the limit of your endurance, and it's not always easy to tell when your cross the line from the limits to past them. From other accounts I've read, I suspect my friend is right when she says that denial is a potent aphrodisiac. Ignoring pain or pushing through it is something many athletes are taught to do - no pain, no gain, etc.; we just saw Robert Griffin III suffer a serious injury that might have been preventable, while conversely, the Washington Nationals last season had the good sense and courage to shut down Stephen Strassburg to protect his surgically repaired arm. And there was plenty of criticism of that decision. How far do we want athletes to go in order to entertain us? But OTOH, is it our place to tell them what decisions they should make about their lives?

Again, no answers to any of this.

It isn't just the athletes pushing themselves.....as many of the skaters are in their teens. The coaches are setting up the training schedule, the periodization cycles,etc. There is a greater need for research into how many repetitions are really needed ESP once a skill is learned. And, then the repetitions of jumps needs to be monitored each day. CoP has made greater demands on the skaters bodies......and it is showing up with the long list of injuries, particularly the last few seasons.

I agree with you, MM. Evan looks gorgeous, but the first thought came to my mind was same as the occasion with Johnny (him being in Tokyo last week): "What is Evan doing there? As Karne says, who is supposed to be in Omaha so soon."

I really hope he will not withdraw from US Nats at the last minutes this year...

It isn't just the athletes pushing themselves.....as many of the skaters are in their teens. The coaches are setting up the training schedule, the periodization cycles,etc. There is a greater need for research into how many repetitions are really needed ESP once a skill is learned. And, then the repetitions of jumps needs to be monitored each day. CoP has made greater demands on the skaters bodies......and it is showing up with the long list of injuries, particularly the last few seasons.

It is possible that although coaches have adapted to the logistical demands of the new skating system (such as how to lay out a program), they haven't really made a study of how those demands affect the bodies of skaters. That's a physiological study that would take more resources (financial and scientific) than some local coach can summon up. Maybe this is something that has to be studied at the federation level and then disseminated out to coaches? There might be some sort of defensive training program that skaters could be taught.

It is possible that although coaches have adapted to the logistical demands of the new skating system (such as how to lay out a program), they haven't really made a study of how those demands affect the bodies of skaters. That's a physiological study that would take more resources (financial and scientific) than some local coach can summon up. Maybe this is something that has to be studied at the federation level and then disseminated out to coaches? There might be some sort of defensive training program that skaters could be taught.

Wouldn't this be under the jurisdiction of the group that Mitch Moyer oversees for USFS, Athlete High Performance group?

Thanks everybody for such an interesting discussion! I had nothing to contribute to it, but you've given me much to think about - there are, indeed, so many questions to ponder, while answers are not easy to come by.

Here is an article about Jeremy Abbott, in which his recent back issues are also talked about:

I think I saw some mention of at least another withdrawal on the Euros threads due to injury, but cannot now recall - does anyone have any info on that? Also, other withdrawals/injuries?

Scrolling down Blazing Blades, I saw an article linked from Unseen Skaters Online that Vanessa Lam has withdrawn from US Nationals due to injury. Not knowing if it is a permissable link, I'm not including it, but thought it worth a mention. (I'm a little hazy on what links are permissable and not, so I thought best to err on the side of caution.)

"Plushenko had decided to come to Zagreb only on Friday as he is still battling a back injury. His condition had not improved since Russian Nationals and it was obvious in practice that he was not at a 100 percent.
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Right after the end of the short program Plushenko withdrew as he suffered an aggravation of his chronic back condition."

"We have decided to withdraw from the European Championship - said Evgeny Plushenko. - The reason - all the same injury, for which I was unable to properly prepare for the tournament. And now rolling short program showed, unfortunately, with existing health problems, I can not normally ride in the first place - a qualitatively perform jumps. Now - to the doctor for a checkup. I think I will go to Germany. We are now just discussing this issue. Thanks to everyone who supports me, who for me is going through. See you later! "

"Today piter.tv aired a video interview with Mishin. He said that a couple of days later Plu will be operated in Israel where he will get an artificial disk replacement in the spine. He said Evgeni can't train properly with his current back condition, so they decided to go though the surgery. He will keep training for Sochi after reabilitation:http://piter.tv/event/Mishin_o_Plyuschenko/

Wishing her a speedy, full and more lasting recovery! It must have been so disheartening to be on one's way back, only for this injury to happen. This really illustrates why the skaters deserve our respect for their courage and perseverance.

Also, is there more news about other skaters? There are so many threads, and only so much time to follow them all so if You - yes, I mean You! - have any info on the injury/recovery of any skater - particularly those who have not "merited" a thread - or two - of their own - please, do share!

Thanks everybody for such an interesting discussion! I had nothing to contribute to it, but you've given me much to think about - there are, indeed, so many questions to ponder, while answers are not easy to come by.

Here is an article about Jeremy Abbott, in which his recent back issues are also talked about:

So, other than Abbott talking about back pain, did he disclose a diagnosis? Many skaters had had serious back problems over the years but have continued to compete. Yu Na has had irritated discs in her back; Flatt has had bulging discs for 5-6 yrs....did Jeremy give any additional info in Omaha about what has caused the back pain? Plushy is off to get back/disc surgery.......